Adem @ Stereo, 21 Sep

Adem Ilhan’s intimate solo debut Homesongs was a record of uncommon majesty: you realise that when, in between its actual songs, you hear your own satisfied exhalations loudly above the noise of your environment, be it bathtub, bustling street, or bus. Like a certain brand of whisky, Adem at his best is able to extract tranquil beauty from any given situation. Second album Love And Other Planets introduced more electronic tinges, finally ceding to the ex-Fridge bassist’s oft-tagged ‘folktronica’ label, but Adem’s latest tour will see him concentrating on recent third outing Takes. If the prospect of a covers album instead of new material seemed underwhelming to fans, the execution was certainly no disappointment. Another high-quality offering, this time Adem reconstructed favourite songs by artists like PJ Harvey, Aphex Twin, Low and The Breeders into his own distinctive mould. And if you don’t recognise the song, you can always listen out for the contented sighs instead. [Ally Brown]